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Growing wild
By Denise Dick
Poland school resumes outdoor lessons
By DENISE DICK
poland
Students at North Elementary School get their hands dirty digging into their outdoor classroom.
The school received a $2,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley to erect an arbor within the courtyard.
Several years ago, the school put in a greenhouse where children plant flowers and vegetables and learn about gardening. Next will be a pond with a three-tier waterfall expected to be installed in the next couple of weeks.
It’s part of the school’s becoming a Wild School Site. The designation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is expected next month.
The space is used by all grade levels.
“Miss [Karen] Vasko’s class sat at the picnic tables and did their math lesson,” said Principal Michael Masucci.
Other activities are more traditionally outdoor.
First-graders Anthony Weimer, Nathan Pike, Nicholas Manack and Gianna Lattanzio, all 7; Justin Allsopp, Madison Depp and Alexis Capan, all 6; and Briauna Stauffer, 8, dug their hands into the dirt to plant corn, green beans, peas and squash Friday morning.
“I planted corn and peas,” Anthony said.
He likes corn but doesn’t care much for peas.
“But my pop eats them every day — every day that he has them,” Anthony said.
Madison planted all of the vegetables but says she likes green beans the best. She brushed the dirt from her hands, believing it was worth it to get “a little dirty.”
Nicholas planted “all flavors” but also points to green beans as his vegetable of choice.
Justin stuck with corn, the only one of the available vegetables that he likes. He gives high marks, though, to spending time outside.
“It’s awesome,” Justin said.
Briauna doesn’t like squash, so she just went with corn, green beans and peas.
“I don’t like peas either — blahk,” she said.
Alexis opted for three corn and one bean plant. She also remembers planting a tulip bulb in one of the courtyard flower beds way back when she was in kindergarten. She’s pleased with how those flowers have come in.
Besides the veggies planted Friday, Gianna and her classmates also planted flowers earlier this spring. They’ll give those to their moms for Mother’s Day.
“I like to plant stuff,” Gianna explained.
Certification as a Wild School Site recognizes the hard work a school has done to create an outdoor space, ODNR officials have said.
North is the second Poland school to earn the designation.
Last year, Union Elementary was named a Wild School Site because of an outdoor, wooded space turned into a classroom.
Masucci said the children learn about how seeds grow and how to care for the plants.
“If they plant them, they’re more likely to try them too,” he said of more exotic fruit and vegetable varieties.